Berkeley Backyard Bird Blog: Leisurely Birding in the Meadows & Riparian Corridors of Brionesland

California Poppies in bloom along Briones Reservoir

With a car on hand, and a couple of hours to spare, we decide to head to a place I call Brionesland, about thirty minutes away down winding Wildcat Canyon Road in the Berkeley Hills, and then five more winding miles up Bear Creek Road.

Lesser Goldfinch

In Brionesland, you can always be assured of seeing deer, coyote, the occasional bobcat, and once, the only mountain lion I have ever seen in the wild. Also, birds of all kind abound in the thistly meadows and riparian corridors, with their lush understory and sheltering canopy of many varieties of trees. Raptors and Vultures ply the cerulean skies.

Raccoon standing tall defending territory

Bear Creek Loop is an easy trail that takes us through shaded forest of curvaceous bay, stout madrone and green acorn bearing oak trees. Occasional openings afford excellent bird habitat to witness the comings and goings, hoots and calls, of Sparrows, Warblers, Vireos, Chickadees, Hawks and Turkeys.

Bear Creek in reflective brilliance

Lots of poison oak in through here, too, fading to crimson and adding an autumnal quality to things. Bear Creek itself, the major artery which contributes to the impoundment of Briones Reservoir, is not even a trickle at this rainless time of year, yet a patch here and there of water remains – a life-sustaining gift, these important drinking holes for thirsty residents and passers-by.

Yellow-rumped Warbler ground feeding

After a leisurely mile of hiking, with some pushing uphill, we come to the tinderbox dry meadows of Homestead Valley. This area, where Seaborg Trail splits off from Crescent Ridge Trail, is open range. Tons of yellow star thistle grows in these parts – the bane of park ecologists – but the pernicious non-native weed also provides a highly nutritious food source to sustain large populations of several different species of birds.

Brionesland provides provender aplenty for all wild creatures

During a half-hour observation period, I reel in dozens of Western Bluebirds flitting about and feeding, as well as Song Sparrows and Lincoln's Sparrows (the latter probably mis-identified), Purple Finches (probably mis-identified), immature female Yellow Warblers.

Dry and hot Brionesland

Then, a crème de la crème sighting of a resplendent breeding female Yellow Warbler taking up perch on a dead thistle two inches away from a breathtaking specimen of a Western Bluebird spotting up on the same weed.

Western Bluebirds perched atop tree branches

The contrast of a bright yellow, 4-inch Warbler matched against the indigo-orange vestment of the 7-inch sleeker Bluebird is remarkable for its brilliance of color on display as well as unlikely juxtaposition of two disparate birds. Too bad I'm not equipped for some professional up close photography.

Brionesland open range wildlife habitat (and cows - ugh!)

Oh, well, this one's a keeper

in my forever imagination.

A Goose on the loose

Up a steep hill we climb, surprised at the sun's heat, now fully exposed on the slope at a hot 4 pm, with a patch of shade every so often from a lone tree, until we finally make the crest, where we sit down under a copse of oak trees and take in the view.

Tranquil spot of wildflowers and woodland

Brionesland hills are, par excellence, stunning in their voluptuous unendingness. Brionesland is truly an amazing wild natural area, considering that on all sides the park is surrounded by industry, residential sprawl, and highways. It's large and deep enough to make you forget every last bit of it.

Pretty view of the reservoir

Thank Heavens, for the people and organizations responsible

for preserving these 6,000 acres of bounty and beauty!

Ducks skirting and flirting about on seasonal pond

Retracing our steps to the staging area, we dilly-dally for another twenty minutes in the expansive meadow, hoping to spot a tanager or bunting, but no such luck. A couple of clucking old Wild Toms emerge from nearby underbrush and scurry across for shelter on the other side. A Hawk swoops low. Many Bluebirds, Warblers, and an occasional Black Phoebe.

Red-winged Blackbirds are delightful visitors in bunches

It's hard to pull away from the show,

but the sun is getting low, and it's time to go.

After rains, this is a major newt crossing, hundreds of them

At the car, I find excuses to delay getting in and driving away. Someone once said, near the parking areas is where you'll find all the birds. I hear two or three calls I cannot identify. I trace one particularly pretty melody toward the expanse of hills, but it quiets at my approach.

A pair of Western Bluebirds taking a break

The silence is golden in the dying light. Looking about, I lock eyes with a bobcat hiding in tall brown grass, looking down on the parking area. He's skittish at every sound, but sits there patiently for several minutes, letting me observe him unabashedly, before scampering off at the unnerving blare of a baby crying.

Seasonal pond attracts all kinds of animals (cows, too, ugh!)

And so concludes our beautiful outing in Brionesland, where you can always count on seeing birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians in their natural habitats, especially at the right time of day.

Cows are allowed to graze in Briones Regional Park

I’ve seen lazy bobcats, raggedy-ass coyotes, and a handsome gray fox. I've witnessed the noble spectacle of a nine-point antlered buck leading a family of four across a hillside. Once, I espied a doe and her newly born fawn learning how to walk in a misty morning meadow.

Sweet little Yellow-rumped Warbler

I’ve seen baby rattlesnakes curled up like little turds on the trail, and more than one very large Western Diamondback sunning on a rock. During one outing, I came upon a three-foot long California Kingsnake!

Don't wanna mess with this rattler!

There are major sightings of newts on the mating prowl, big old bullfrogs honking up a storm in mossy ponds shared with turtles where skunks and raccoons emerge from hiding places to slake their thirst and perhaps catch a little frog or fish. The truly patient and lucky can only hope to see the California Tiger Salamander or a rare Alameda Striped Racer. (I’ve seen neither.)

Is this a Violet-green Swallow I wonder?

Brionesland comprises one of the richest biotas in the Bay Area. For bird lovers, it's a treasure trove of avian activity. Commonplace sightings of Oak / Woodland / Bay species include Acorn Woodpeckers, Turkey Vultures, Hawks, Quail, Blackbirds, Kingfishers, and Owls; not to mention (but I will!) regular sightings of waterfowl: Ducks, Geese, Egrets, Herons, Terns, Cormorants and other shorebirds making their way to Brionesland's riparian / lake paradise.

Heron and Egret hang-out along the lake shore

In-the-know birders can espy at various times of the year Ospreys, Bald and Golden Eagles, Chipping Sparrows, Lazuli Buntings, Purple Martins, Lawrence's Goldfinches, and, like finding a nugget of gold in a creek, a glimpse of a Northern Shrike impaling a grasshopper on a wooden fence post.